| US Patents: | |||||
| 6,056,157 | 6,003,731 | 5,992,691 | 5,938,078 | 5,730,327 | 5,628,430 |
| 5,474,212 | 5,452,825 | 5,114,045 | 4,856,676 | 4,164,306 | 3,843,021 |
| 3,352,460 | |||||
- A link to the Patent Family information is included within each patent abstract
Abstracts of patents relating to "U.S. Patent 6,273,298"
| Patent Number: | 6,056,157 |
| Title: | Device For Dispensing Flowable Material From A Flexible Package |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 6,056,157 |
| Inventor(s): | Gehl, John P. (Hartland, WI), Nikolaus, Carol J. (Shorewood, WI), Freeman, Tim (Shorewood, WI), Borsheim, David A. (Sussex, WI), Jahn, Arnold A. (Menomonee Falls, WI) |
| Application Number: | 625210 |
| Abstract: | A device for sanitary dispensing from a flexible package a heated flowable material, such as cheese sauce, to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened. The dispensing device includes a housing defining heated compartment, a heating unit for maintaining the compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level, a package support in the compartment arranged to promote gravity flow of the material and a valve for selectively controlling flow of the material from the package and having a dispensing portion disposed substantially entirely in the compartment or the package support. The valve is removably connected to a package outlet and a valve member mounted in a valve body is moved from a closed position to an open position by an operator to discharge cheese sauce through a discharge opening in the housing. A second package of cheese sauce preferably is placed on top of the dispensing package to serve as a weight for promoting gravity flow from the dispensing package and to precondition the second package. In one embodiment, the package support is divided into a dispensing compartment and a preheating compartment which is arranged to hold a package in a configuration which permits the cheese sauce to be heated to an elevated temperature required by ANSI/NSF standards. The package support preferably is a one piece hopper molded from a synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting material and packages in the dispensing and preheating compartments are heated by electrical heating elements molded into the hopper walls. |
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| Patent Number: | 6,003,731 |
| Title: | Dispensing Apparatus For Viscous Fluids Contained In Flexible Packages |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 6,003,731 |
| Inventor(s): | Post, Johannes Hermanus Nicolaas (Sassenheim, NL), Langeveld, Michiel Jacobus Johannes (Zoetermeer, NL), Mink, Johannes Hendrikus (Voorhout, NL) |
| Application Number: | 167890 |
| Abstract: | An apparatus for dispensing viscous fluids includes a turntable that is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The apparatus is connected to a plurality of containers that contain fluid to be dispensed. The containers are mounted to the turntable in a spaced relationship about the circumference of the turntable. The turntable is also connected to a plurality of pumps, one pump associated with each container. The pumps include connectors that are releasably connected to the containers and that facilitate the removal of an empty container for replacement with a full container. The apparatus also includes an actuator that facilitates the removal of an empty container. The pumps are preferably disposed on an opposing side of the turntable from the containers. The apparatus also includes a plurality of rollers disposed at the outer circumference of the turntable for supporting the turntable in the radial and axial directions. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,992,691 |
| Title: | Dispensing Apparatus For Fluid Contained In Flexible Packages |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,992,691 |
| Inventor(s): | Post, Johannes Hermanus Nicolaas (Sassenheim, NL), Langeveld, Michiel Jacobus Johannes (Zoetermeer, NL), Mink, Johannes Hendrikus (Voorhout, NL) |
| Application Number: | 888826 |
| Abstract: | A dispensing system for dispensing viscous fluids from flexible packages is provided. The flexible package is connected to a pump by way of a conduit. A buffer system may be provided which results in an emptying of the flexible package of fluid first prior to the emptying of the buffer system. A valve may be provided to isolate the flexible package thereby enabling the flexible package to be removed and replaced with a full package while the pump continues to draw fluid out of the buffer system. Accordingly, the flexible package of fluid may be replaced without interruption of the dispenser. A self-cleaning closure for the outlet to the dispenser may be provided to keep the outlet clean. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,938,078 |
| Title: | Valve For Beverage Dispenser |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,938,078 |
| Inventor(s): | Dorsey, Steven T. (St. Joseph, MN), Powlas, Jerome D. (Maple Grove, MN), Johnson, Karl D. (Rogers, MN) |
| Application Number: | 853446 |
| Abstract: | A beverage dispenser, usable in dispensing milk, has a large refrigerated cabinet for housing large beverage containers. The beverage dispenser has a handle/valve with a first closed position, a second open position, and a third position for insertion and removal of a flexible milk tube. The handle includes two arms, and the user holds a cup between the two arms to receive the dispensed milk. The valve includes a cooling plate which refrigerates the milk in the flexible milk tube extending through the valve. The valve has a pinch plate which closes the flexible tube with a rocking motion, initially pinching the flexible tube at its lowest point and subsequently reopening the tube slightly to suck any beverage drops on the end of the tube back up into the tube. A hinged shelf is provided for ease of loading and unloading milk cases in and out of the refrigerated cabinet. The milk case has angled hand hold openings to allow lifting without repositioning of the wrists. The milk case is specially made to receive a connector from a milk bag, and includes a tie which raises the flexible milk tube prior to insertion of the flexible tube into the valve. A secondary shut-off mechanism is on the inside of the cabinet to shut off flow control by the handle. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,730,327 |
| Title: | Arrangement For Portioning Viscous Materials From A Pack |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,730,327 |
| Inventor(s): | Stern, Leif Einar (Lomma, SE) |
| Application Number: | 633815 |
| Abstract: | The present invention relates to an arrangement for portioning or dispensing viscous material from a pack, whereby the pack is positionable in an outer container and a portioning or dispensing unit includes a non-return valve which prevents the material from flowing back to the pack during portioning or dispensation. For being able to quickly place the pack in the outer container and quickly and safely lock a retaining portion as well as ensure than vital valve members of the non-return valve are not damaged during handling and operation of the portioning unit, the outer container is divided in a special way into two container members, whereby retaining members of the retaining device are integrated in the container members and whereby the valve seat of the non-return valve is surrounded by the retaining members of the retaining device. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,628,430 |
| Title: | Liquid Dispensing System |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,628,430 |
| Inventor(s): | Barbe, David J. (Winterville, NC) |
| Application Number: | 497604 |
| Abstract: | A liquid dispenser for withdrawing liquids from one or more containers having a mouth and bottom and side walls joined at a juncture comprised of a container support to position the containers with their mouths over the lowermost part of the wall juncture, a probe support spaced above the container support, and a plurality of probes slidably supported on the probe support above the container support, each probe including a lower end with a curved face corresponding to the curvature of the juncture, each probe being moveable between a raised position above the mouth of a container, and a lowered position extending through the mouth of the container and into contact with the lowermost part of the interior of said container at the juncture, and a pump to draw liquid from the container upwardly through the probe. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,474,212 |
| Title: | Liquid-pumping Container |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,474,212 |
| Inventor(s): | Ichikawa, Toru (Misato, JP), Tahara, Tomio (Tokyo, JP) |
| Application Number: | 257713 |
| Abstract: | The liquid-pumping container according to this invention comprises: a container consisting of a flexible bag for containing a liquid substance and an outlet block positioned at the top of the bag and provided with an outlet hole for outlet of the liquid substance, a cover block mounting portion, and a box fixing portion; a cover block which is liquid-tightly mounted on the cover block mounting portion of the outlet block; a pump mechanism provided on the cover block for pumping out the liquid substance from the bag; and a box consisting of a pair of box components which are connected to each other through hinge sections for containing the bag by fixing the outlet block on a support block of the box when the box components are closed. The liquid-pumping container has a structure which simplifies the replacement procedure of the bag containing the liquid substance and reduces the cost of manufacturing. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,452,825 |
| Title: | Liquid Dispenser For Vertical Wall Mounting |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,452,825 |
| Inventor(s): | Comstock, Roger D. (Orem, UT), Tischner, Ryan K. (Orem, UT), Pearce, Wayne E. (Provo, UT) |
| Application Number: | 098340 |
| Abstract: | A liquid dispenser device comprising a shell (24) adapted to be wall-mounted substantially vertically in a bathing or washing area and to removably and replaceably receive and hold one or more elongate bottles (20) for liquids useful before, after, or while bathing, each bottle (20) having a valve assembly (22) operable by a push button (74) along an axis extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of its associated bottle as positioned substantially vertically for use. The shell (24) has a hinged and preferably lockable cover part (28) that can be propped open when raised for allowing a bottle (20) to be removed for refilling. Most of the components of the dispenser device are preferably fabricated from a thermoplastic, as by well-known injection molding techniques. |
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| Patent Number: | 5,114,045 |
| Title: | Method And An Installation For Conserving And/or Dispensing A Liquid Or Semi-liquid Substance |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 5,114,045 |
| Inventor(s): | Herpe, Michel (Orsay, FR) |
| Application Number: | 427187 |
| Abstract: | A method and an installation for conserving and/or dispensing a liquid or semi-liquid substance (P) released in a deformable flexible bag (s). The substance may be extracted from the bag by actuating and appropriate drawing-off dust (12), with the substance being drawn off via the duct (50) which remains closed so long as the bag (s) is not in place in a conservation and/or dispensing apparatus. While the bag is in the apparatus, and so long as the bag is not entirely empty, the substance is circulated by a pump round a closed loop circuit which extends in part outside the bag, with the circuit being set up when the bag (s) is put into place in the conservation and/or dispensing apparatus. |
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| Patent Number: | 4,856,676 |
| Title: | Post Mix Dispenser |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 4,856,676 |
| Inventor(s): | Emody, Kenneth J. (Foxboro, MA) |
| Application Number: | 092433 |
| Abstract: | A post mix dispenser having a refrigerated cabinet at the top which houses separate containers for different juice concentrates. The machine mixes potable water with the concentrate on demand. The potable water is cooled in an ice bath at the rear of the cabinet, in the same refrigeration system which cools the ice bath provides a source for cooling air circulated in the cabinet about the concentrate containers. The concentrate containers each are of rigid box member construction having supported therein a liquid-type bag member with an outlet member. The containers are coupled to a beverage discharge assembly by a concentrate pump and a concentrate control valve that provides for quick-disconnect operation. |
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| Patent Number: | 4,164,306 |
| Title: | Soap Dispenser Including Removable Soap Supply Container Positioner And Stabilizer |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 4,164,306 |
| Inventor(s): | Perrin, Jack L. (Los Angeles, CA) |
| Application Number: | 892882 |
| Abstract: | A frame including a vertically pivotal cabinet mounts a dispensing mechanism selectively operable by an actuating lever for dispensing liquid soap therefrom. The main soap supply is provided by an inverted container which is rearwardly vertically pivoted into and forwardly pivoted from a soap supplying position when the cabinet is open. At least one forward cylindrical projection on the frame slidably pressure abuts facing vertical surfaces within a back wall recess of the container during pivotal insertion into and while the container is in the soap supplying position, the projection and recess preferably being horizontally offset relative to the container vertical centerline, all to positively locate and stabilize the container in the dispenser. |
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| Patent Number: | 3,843,021 |
| Title: | Disposable Reservoir Package For Liquid-dispenser Having Float-operated Valve |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 3,843,021 |
| Inventor(s): | Schieser, Warren J. (Columbus, OH) |
| Application Number: | 294271 |
| Abstract: | A disposable reservoir for water-coolers, or similar liquid dispensers, comprising a package preferably consisting of a bag, box and valve assembly, the valve being of such a nature that when the package is mounted on a water-cooler or the like as its reservoir, the valve opens automatically to supply water into the well of the cooler and is closed by a float in that well whenever necessary to maintain a predetermined level of water in the well. |
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| Patent Number: | 3,352,460 |
| Title: | Storage And Dispensing Device For Liquid Infant Formula |
| Family: | Patent family and legal status for 3,352,460 |
| Inventor(s): | Herring Ben B |
| Publication Number: | US3352460 |
| Application Number: | US19660537752 |
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